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GoHighLevel vs Insightly : A Comprehensive CRM Showdown
Choosing the right CRM can make or break your business. Whether you’re a digital marketing agency, small business, or sales-driven organization, finding a platform that aligns with your workflow is crucial. In this head-to-head comparison, we’ll break down GoHighLevel vs Insightly, covering their features, ease of use, pricing, automation capabilities, and more.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of which CRM best fits your needs.
Key Takeaways
- GoHighLevel (GHL) is built for marketers and agencies with a strong focus on automation and client management.
- Insightly caters to small and mid-sized businesses looking for a traditional CRM with project management capabilities.
- GHL offers an all-in-one solution including funnels, email marketing, SMS, and automation.
- Insightly integrates well with third-party tools but lacks built-in marketing automation.
- Pricing varies significantly, with GHL offering white-label solutions and SaaS options.
What is GoHighLevel (GHL)?
A comprehensive, all-in-one marketing and sales automation platform designed for agencies, consultants, and businesses. It includes CRM, SMS/email marketing, funnels, automation, AI-powered chatbots, and white-label SaaS capabilities, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to automate and scale their client management and marketing efforts.
What is Insightly?
A customer relationship management (CRM) and project management tool built for small to medium-sized businesses. It helps teams manage contacts, track sales pipelines, automate workflows, and integrate with third-party applications like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace. Unlike GHL, it lacks built-in marketing automation and focuses more on traditional CRM and project management functionalities.
Overview of GoHighLevel and Insightly
| Feature | GoHighLevel (GHL) | Insightly |
|---|
| Best For | Digital agencies, marketers, coaches, and consultants | Small to medium businesses, sales teams |
| Automation | Advanced workflows, SMS/email automation, AI | Basic automation with limited triggers |
| Sales Pipeline | Customizable pipelines with automation | Standard CRM pipeline management |
| Marketing Tools | Funnels, email, SMS, website builder, reputation management | Email marketing, lead management |
| Integrations | Native tools built-in, API access | Third-party integrations with Zapier, QuickBooks, etc. |
| Customization | White-label CRM, SaaS mode | Custom fields, reports, dashboards |
| Pricing | Starts at $97/month | Starts at $29/month |
Features Breakdown
Automation & Marketing Capabilities
✅ GoHighLevel:
- Built-in email marketing, SMS campaigns, funnels, AI conversation bots, and appointment booking.
- Advanced workflow automation to trigger actions based on customer behavior.
- White-label SaaS mode allowing agencies to resell GHL as their own CRM.
❌ Insightly:
- Offers basic automation but lacks SMS marketing or AI-driven workflows.
- Requires third-party integrations (Zapier, Mailchimp, etc.) for marketing campaigns.
👉 Winner: GoHighLevel for its built-in marketing and automation tools.
Sales & Pipeline Management
✅ GoHighLevel:
- Custom sales pipelines with automation (e.g., move leads based on behavior).
- Built-in call tracking, SMS follow-ups, and lead nurturing sequences.
❌ Insightly:
- Traditional CRM-style pipelines with drag-and-drop stages.
- Includes contact management and lead scoring but lacks automation beyond simple triggers.
👉 Winner: GoHighLevel for dynamic, automated sales pipelines.
Ease of Use & User Experience
✅ GoHighLevel:
- All-in-one platform means less jumping between tools.
- Slight learning curve due to extensive automation features.
✅ Insightly:
- Simple interface for CRM beginners.
- More intuitive for basic CRM needs but lacks deep automation.
👉 Winner: Insightly for simplicity, but GoHighLevel if you need more features.
| Plan | GoHighLevel (GHL) | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $97/month (Single location CRM) | $29/user/month (Basic CRM, no automation) |
| Mid-Tier Plan | $297/month (Unlimited sub-accounts, SaaS mode) | $49/user/month (Workflow automation & project management) |
| Premium Plan | $497/month (Agency Pro: White-label, rebilling, AI, advanced automation) | $99/user/month (Best for larger teams, advanced reporting & automation) |
| Free Trial | ✅ 14-day free trial | ✅ 14-day free trial |
| White-Labeling | ✅ Yes (Available in Agency Pro) | ❌ No |
| Marketing Automation | ✅ Yes (Built-in email, SMS, funnels, AI automation) | ❌ No (Requires third-party tools like Mailchimp) |
| Number of Users | Unlimited users | Per-user pricing |
👉 Winner: GoHighLevel for better features at a lower cost per user, especially for agencies and marketing-driven businesses. Insightly is more affordable for small teams needing a traditional CRM.
Who Should Use GoHighLevel vs Insightly?
Choose GoHighLevel If
✅ You run an agency, coaching business, or consulting firm.
✅ You want marketing automation, SMS, and AI conversation bots.
✅ You need an all-in-one CRM + marketing solution.
✅ You want SaaS mode to resell CRM services.
Choose Insightly If
✅ You need a simple CRM for managing contacts and projects.
✅ You prefer third-party integrations for marketing.
✅ You’re a small business with a traditional sales pipeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CRM is better for automation?
✅ GoHighLevel has advanced workflow automation, including SMS follow-ups, AI conversation bots, and email marketing.
❌ Insightly offers basic automation but lacks built-in SMS marketing and requires third-party integrations.
Does Insightly have SMS marketing like GoHighLevel?
No, Insightly does not have built-in SMS marketing. You’d need a third-party tool.
Which CRM is better for a digital agency?
GoHighLevel is specifically built for agencies, offering automation, white-label options, and marketing tools.
Does either CRM offer white-label options?
✅ GoHighLevel allows agencies to resell the platform under their brand (SaaS Mode).
❌ Insightly does not offer white-labeling.
Conclusion
For businesses looking for automation, marketing tools, and scalability, GoHighLevel is the better choice. Insightly is a good option for traditional CRM users who need basic contact and project management.
🔹 Best for Agencies & Marketing: GoHighLevel
🔹 Best for Simple CRM Needs: Insightly
👉 Need a CRM that does it all? Try GoHighLevel today! 🚀
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